1The emphasis of coach pitch is on instruction and having fun! Good sportsmanship will be stressed. Any questions involving any rules, behavior, etc. should have this as the foundation of that discussion!

2Little League Rules will govern all play unless stated otherwise in these local rules.

3There will be no paid umpires. The defensive team shall furnish the umpire for their ½ inning. This umpire may be a parent, manager or coach. They should be familiar with the local Coach pitch rules. Umpire calls should not be disputed or argued at any time. Managers should collectively discuss any rule clarification issues.

4Each game will be 5 innings or 1 hour 15 minuteswhichever occurs first. No new inning shall start after 1 hour and 10 minutes.

5An “official” score will not be kept.

6Each team must have at least eight players to begin a game. If a team does not have at least eight players at game time, that team will be given a ten-minute extension before a forfeit will be declared.What happens in the event of a forfeit?Do we encourage the opposing team to send players over and still play a game?Why even have a forfeit if no score is kept?

7The home team will be stationed in the first base dugout and the visiting team will be in the third base dugout.

8All players are allowed to play defense (max. 5 infielders). Extra players must play outfield and outfielders must be positioned in the outfield grass. Catchers are required in this league.A coach from the team who is batting needs to stand behind the catcher to collect passed balls to keep the pace of the game moving.

9Each player must play the outfield at least once during the game.

10Teams must bat in a consecutive order. All players shall bat in each inning.

11If a player becomes unable to bat because of sickness or injury, his place will be skipped in the batting order and no out will be recorded.

12Any player arriving for a game after the game has started should be placed at the end of the batting order.

13Players must be rotated on the field. No players may play the same position more than twice in a game.

14The defensive team is allowed two coaches in the outfield.

15Each batter will receive a maximum of five pitches. After the fifth pitch, if the batter has not successfully hit the ball, he will be declared out unless the fifth or last pitch is a foul ball. The batter will then receive another pitch. If the final pitch is declared “un-hittable” by the umpire, the batter will receive an additional pitch.If the fifth pitch is declared ”un-hittable” and the batter swings and misses, the batter will be out.So we do allow for strikeouts?We don’t ever go to a tee?

16If a batter hits a foul tip with two strikes and is caught by the catcher, an out will be recorded.

17If the batted ball hits the designated pitcher, it is a dead ball and batter will be awarded one base as well as all runners will go one base . If the coach purposely interferes with the batted ball, the batter will be called “out”, and no runners may advance.

18Plays at the plate are to be made by the catcher rather than another position player, unless the other player is backing up the play. The umpire will allow the runner to score if this happens during the game.

19The on-deck batter may not be out of the dugout at any time.

20A courtesy runner will be used for the catcher when there are two outs in order to speed up the game. This runner will be the runner who made the last out of the inning.

21Coaches will not position a batter’s stance in the batter’s box in order to gain an advantage over the defensive team, i.e. all batter’s feet should be pointed toward home plate.

22All batters and base runners shall wear helmets.

23Players will not throw the bat. There will be 1 warning only. The second offense on the same individual batter will result in that player being called out, removal from the base and returned to dugout – other runners shall return to their original base positions.

24Runners stop advancing when the ball reaches the pitchers circle or the defensive player has clearly stopped the advancement of the base runner.

25Hash marks between first/second and second/third will be used to determine if the runners advance. (i.e., if a runner advancing between first and second has not reached the hash by the time play has been stopped, the runner shall return to first base).

26A base runner may advance only one base on a ball over thrown into foul territory.

27The pitcher (the player, not the coach) may not make an unassisted out at 1B, 2B or 3B. They must make a throw to the bag.

28First base outs are made by a ball thrown to the first baseman. The exceptions to this are: a) first baseman fields the ball and tags the bag or the runner; b) First baseman fields the ball and throws to any other player covering the bag.

29The pitcher may make no more than two unassisted force outs at home plate in an inning.

30An outfielder may not make an unassisted out at any base. Should this happen, call time and explain to the outfielder how they should throw the ball to a base. Do not record an out and leave the runner on base.

31If there is a play at home plate, the player MUST slide. Failure to slide at home plate when there is a play on (throw is made and player is covering) will result in the player being called out.

32Home team lines the field.Pitcher’s circle is 10’ diameter – use string provided. Visitor team rakes the field after the game – pay particular attention to filling in any holes around the infield.

33Both teams are responsible for cleaning up their dugouts and the field area. Ask players and parents to help. Help keep our park clean!

34T-Ball players age five and older are allowed to be called up to play in the “Rookie” League Coach pitch division if a team has nine or fewer players.